Holder for game devices



Feb; 10, 1948. RUNMNG 1 2,435,698

HOLDER FOR GAME DEVICES Filed June 26, 1944' NLle H.Rurmiq% Patented Feb. 10,-; 194.8

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDER FOR GAME DEVICES Nile H. Running, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application June 26, 1944, Serial No. 542,045

11 Claims.

chips may be readily removed from the same when the chips are desired for use.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing each chip container with two trays adapted to be positioned'toenclose the chips when mounted on the rack and adapted to be opened up to afford space for holding additional chips accumulated during the playing of the game.

Another object of the invention resides in hingedly connecting the trays together to permit of readily opening the same for use or closing the same to enclose the chips.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the trays so that two of the edges thereof become spaced from one another when the trays are closed to provide a window through which the chips in the container maybe viewed.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a coverforthe rack adapted to overlie the chip containers and to hold the same in position upon the rack- A still further object of the invention resides in providing a compartment for playing cards in the rack and in utilizing the same cover to hold I the cards in'place.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of constructionhereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for game devices illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. V V

Fig. 3 is aperspective view similar to Fig. 1, showing the cover and one of the chip containers removed. x a a Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the chip containers illustrated in open position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4, with the chips removed therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one of the chip containers illustrated'iinciosed position.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a modification of the chip container.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of still another form of chip container.

In the playing of card games utilizing chips, considerable inconvenience is frequently encountered when the chips have to be divided out and passed out to the players. At the same time, the players usually leave the chips loose upon the table, which takes up a considerable amount of space. The instant invention provides a holder for both chips and cards in which the chips are held in separate containers, each of wihch contains a suitable number of chips'and one of which is given to each of the players. 'The said chip containers comprise two trays which, when opened up, expose the chips therein and provide an additional space in which the chips acquired during playing of the game may be disposed.

My invention comprises a rack indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral A. On this rack are mounted a number of chip containers-B, one of which is shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The chip containers B are detachably mounted on the rack A and when desired for use, are distributed to the various players. The construction of the various parts of the invention will now be described in detail.

The rack A consists of a base In annular in form which is provided with an upwardly extending rim II at its outer periphery and a tubular column l2 at the center of the same. The base 10 is further'formed with a ridge l3 which extends downwardly from the outer edge thereof and forms asupport on which the rack may rest when placed on a table or other similar object.

The chip container 13 shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 consists of two trays l4 and I5 which are similar in construction. For this reason, only the tray I will be described in detail. This tray consists of an inner wall l6 and an outer wall I! connected together by means of end walls 3 and '9. These walls have connected to them a wall 2|, which, when the trays are in the position shown in Fig. 4, serves as a bottom for the trays and when the trays are closed, serves as side walls for the chip container. The two trays I4 and I5 are hingedly connected together at the upper ends of the inner walls l6 by means of a pintle 22 which extends successively through offset portions 23, 24, 25 and 26 formed on the walls I 6 of the trays l4 and I5. Inthe form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the walls IS. IT and 2| are of such thickness that a semi-circular trough 21 is formed in the tray I 4 which extends from one end wall 18 to the other end wall IS. The various chips are arranged on edge in this trough, as illustrated in connection with the tray IS in Fig. 4, and are thus supported in the trays.

The end walls l8 and I9 are segmental in form and are of such dimensions that when the facing edges 28 of the complementary trays engage one another, the spaces provided by means of the two trough-s 21 is such that the chips are freely re-' ceived within such space and properly held in position. When the two trays are closed, as'shown in Fig. 3, the trays form segmental shaped chip containers of a dimension slightly less than the width of the base In between the column 12 and the rim H. These containers, when mounted on the base In, completely fill the space on said base both circumferentially and radially, and are held a in place through engagement with on'e anoth'er and with the column I2 and rim II.

It will be noted that the facing edges 29 of the walls I1 of the trays 1'4 and I5 become spaced from one anotherwhen the trays are closed, as illustrated in Figs-1 and -3, toiorm a window 3| for each container through which the chips in the container may be viewed. The user is thus able to tell when the containers are empty or filled with chips, thus making it unnecessary to .open the containers for thispurpose.

V For the .purpose of locking the chip containers B in position on the-rack A, thesaid rack is provided with a cover 32 which extends over the upper. ends of the various containers. This cover is formed with a rim 33 which extends downwardly from the marginaledge of the cover 32 and which=engages the walls 1'! of the chip containers in the same manner as the rim II and holds the same inplace. The cover 32 is held inposition -on-therack-'A by means of anumber of lugs 34 formed thereon which are adapted to engage circum'feren'tially extending ears 35 projecting inwardly from the uppermost edge of the column 1-2. of the rack. The ears 35 are incompletecircumferentially, :providing spaces '36 therebetween in which thelugs may be-insertedinto the column I2. When the cover is properly applied and rotated, the lugs 34 engagebeneath the ears-35 and hold the cover attached to the column 12. The cover 32 may, if desired, be. provided with a handle 36 by means of which the entire. holder may be moved about.

Within the interior of the column are arranged two partitions. 31 and 33 which form a compartment designated at-39 for the reception of a deck of playing cards Whichhas been designated by the reference numeral 4|. The partitions "31 and 38 have finger notches 42 in the same by means of which access to the cards may behad. The lower ends of the partitions 3-1 and 38 are bridged by abottom 43 which closes the lower end of the compartment 39 and supports the cards thereon. When the cover 32 is in closed positionjit not only holds the chip containers in poSitionQbut.likewise holds the deck of cards from removal from the holder.

' In Fig. LYI have shown a modification of the I inventionwh'ichis similar to that shown in Fig. 6.

,For this reason, the description of the corresponding :parts will not be repeated, and the same reference numerals, with the suffix a added thereto, will be used to designate the corresponding parts. }In the form of the invention shown in-Fig. '7, all of the walls are of uniform thickness and the bottom wall 2| is arcuate in iorm.- By means "of the-construction shown-in ljig. 'Leconomy in material is effected.

employed for the purpose.

same in position on therack.

In Fig. 8, another form of the invention is shown. This form of the invention is similar to that shown in Fig. 6 and the same reference numerals, to which the suffix b has been added, will be used to designate the corresponding parts. In this form of the invention, the walls lli I1 and 2 l are substantially planiform. In this form of the invention, the trough 21 is rectangular in form instead of semi-circular. The form of the invention shown in Fig. 8- has the same advantages as that shown in Fig. 7.

My invention can be readily, constructed from wood, metal, or any of the plastic materials now Where plastic material is utilized, the forms of the invention shown in'ifi i gs 7 and 8 are particularly advantageous,

due tothe uniformity in cross-section of the walls of'the trays of the chip containers and due to the economy of material employed.

My invention is highly advantageous in that a neat and compact holder is provided-in which both the chips and cards may be placed. When the holder is closed, the chips and cards are securely held imposition thereon. -When the cover of the holder is removed, the chip containers maybe removed therefromand distributed to the various players with the chips contained therein. Afterthe containers have been opened up, two trays are provided, one of which'contains the chips-normally disposed within the container. The other tray thus becomes an empty tray in which the player may .place the various additional chips acquired in the playing of the game. My-invention may be made neat and attractive in appearance and can be constructed-at a nominal expense. When the cover is removed, the containers and chips are readilyremoved. When the cover is in position, both the *cards 'and the chip containers .are held in place. within the holder. v .7

Changes in thespeci'fic form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within-the scope of what is-claimed. without departing from the spirit of my invention.

with the "chip containers and means for further engagement with thechip'containers to hold the 2. A chip container comprising two trays, each consisting of a bottom, inner and outer walls connected theret'o and end' wal1s connected to said inner and outer walls and said bottom, said=walls forming a trough in each tray in which chips may beplaced on edge, hinge means on 'the upper edges of the inner walls of the trayssupportin'g said trays for movement from an extended position to a "position enclosing the chips within" the container, said end walls being trapezoi'dal' in iorman'd theupper'edges'o'f theend wallsof said trays contacting-eachother when the=container is closed to cause the bottom walls of 'the tray to converge towards theinner walls and diverge toward the outer walls.

3. A:ho1der;or gamerdevices eomprisingxa rack '5 having a circular base and a, central cylindrical column extending upwardly therefrom, a circular rim at the outer portion of the base ex-' tending upwardly therefrom, a plurality of chip containers, each comprising two trays, each consisting'gof a bottom, inner and outer walls connected thereto and end walls connected to said inner and outer walls and said bottom, said walls forming a trough in each tray in which chips may be placed on edge, hinge means on the upper edges ofthe inner wallsof the, tray supporting said trays formovement from an extended position to a position enclosingthe chips within the container, the end walls of said trays of said chip containers being adapted to rest on the base of said rack, said inner walls engaging said column and said outer walls engaging said rim and means attached to the column for retaining the con-' tainers in position upon the rack.

4. A holder for game devices comprising a rack having a circular base and a central cylindrical column extending upwardly therefrom, a circular rim at the outer portion of the base extending upwardly therefrom, a plurality of chip containers, each comprising two trays, each consisting of a bottom, inner and outer walls connected thereto, and end walls connected to said inner and outer walls and said bottom, said walls forming a trough in each tray in which chips may be placed on edge, hinge means on the upper edges of the inner walls of the tray supporting said trays for movement from an extended position to a position enclosing the chips within the container, the bottoms of said trays converging toward the inner walls when the container is in closed position, the end walls of the trays of said containers being adapted to rest upon the base of said rack, said inner walls of said trays engaging the column and the outer walls engaging the rim of said rack, said converging walls of the trays substantially contacting one another, so that the containers substantially form a complete circle about said column and means on said column for holding the containers in position upon the rack.

5. A chip container comprising two trays, each consisting of a bottom, inner and outer walls connected thereto and end walls connected to said inner and outer walls and said bottom, said walls forming a trough in each tray in which chips may be placed on edge, hinge means on the upper edges of the inner walls of the tray supporting said trays for movement from an extended position to a position enclosing the chips within the container and complemental means on the end walls for engagement with each other when the container is closed, said means holding the upper edges of the outer walls apart to form a window therebetween.

6. A chip container comprising two trays, each consisting of a lateral wall structure having inner and outer edges and end walls connected therewith, said wall structure and walls forming a trough in each tray in which chips may be placed on edge, hinge means at the inner edges of said lateral wall structures supporting said trays for movement from an extended position to a position enclosing the chips within the container and means on certain end walls for engagement with the juxtaposed end wall when the container is closed, said means holding the outer edges of the lateral wall structure apart to form a window therebetween.

7. A holder for game devices comprising a, rack having acircular base, a plurality of chip con tainers, each comprising two trays, each consisting of a bottom, inner and outer walls connected thereto and end Walls connected to said inner and outer walls and said bottom, said walls forming a trough in each tray in which chips maybe placed on edge, hinge means on the upper edges of the inner walls of the tray supporting said trays for movement from an extended position to a position enclosing the chips within the container, the end walls of said trays of said chip containers being'adapted to rest on the base of said rack, the outer walls of the trays, when assembled, forming a composite circumferential wall structure enclosing the entire holder, and means for holding the containers in position upon the rack.

8. A chip container comprising two trays, each consisting of a lateral Wall structure having inner and outer portions with upper edges and end walls connected therewith, said wall structure and walls forming a trough in each tray in which chips may be placed on edge, hinge means at the upper edges of the inner portions of said lateral wall structures supporting said trays for movement from an extended position to a position enclosing the chips within the container and means on the lateral wall structures of said container for holding the container from tilting on a surface on which it is placed and in a position to support chips for ready access,

9. A holder for game devices comprising a rack having a circular base, a plurality of chip containers, each comprising two trays, each consisting of a lateral wall structure having inner and outer portions with upper edges and end walls connected thereto, said wall structure and walls forming a trough in each tray in which chips may be placed on edge, hinge means at the upper edges of the inner portions of said lateral wall structures supporting said trays for movement from an extended position to a position enclosing the chips within the container, the end walls of said trays of said chip containersbeing adapted to rest on the base of said rack, means on the lateral wall structures of said container for holding the trays from rocking on a urface on which the container is placed and in a position to support chips for ready access, said means on juxtaposed containers servin to hold the containers from rotational movement when assembled on said rack.

10. A holder for game devices comprising a rack having a base and a central column extending upwardly therefrom, a plurality of chip containers resting upon said base and encircling said column, said holders being removable therefrom, a cover detachably mounted on said column for holding the chip containers in position upon the rack, a lug on said cover facing away from said base. an car on said column facing toward said base. said lugs and ears being situated susbtantially the same distance from the axis of said column and means for guiding said cover for rotation to bring said lugs and ears into overlying position to lock the cover in place and hold the containers within the rack.

11. A chip container comprising two trays, each consisting of a bottom wall, inner and outer walls connected thereto, said walls all having outwardly disposed planiform surfaces and end walls connected to said inner and outer walls and said bottom wall, said walls forming a trough in each tray in which chips may be placed on edge, hinge means on the upper edges of the inner walls of the tray supporting said trays for movement from surfaces of the bottom walls of the trays, when the container is :in closed position, converge toward the planiform surfaces of the inner walls -.a.nd diverge toward the planiform surfaces of the outer walls.

NILE H. RUNNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATESPA'I'ENTS Name' Date Howard Dec. 27, 1864 'Huested Apr. 24, 1877 'Komb'eck Jan, 10, 1882 Beasley July 10, 1894 Forsyth Jan, 23, '1906 Burn Nov. '28, 1911 Wentes Dec. 16, 1924 Stanton Aug. I1, 1942 Hanselmann Sept.i26, 1939 Showers, Sr 'Mar. 14, 1944 

